Lady of the Snakes

Chapter 11

Ralph leaned back against the wood of the small hut, glancing at the sun, which was nearly brushing the horizon. He'd taken to waiting outside for his turn to watch over Nora hours before it was really necessary, kicking Jack out as soon as the sun disappeared.

Nora had been getting slightly better with the passing days. Her delirium had dissipated after several days, and now her fever was nearly gone. There was a near-constant supply of cool ocean water being delivered to the hut by worried littluns, who more often than not had spilled most of it in the journey.

Ralph's head turned as someone shouted from inside the hut. "Get out of my hut, Jack Merridew!" Nora's normally strong voice wobbled and dropped out of Ralph's hearing as she said something else. In a few seconds a disgruntled-looking Jack stumbled out of the hut. He glowered at Ralph and broke into a run, disappearing into the woods.

Ralph stood, brushed the sand from his trousers, and poked his head into the hut. "Is Jack bothering you?"

"No more than usual," Nora grinned faintly, then sighed. "How much longer do I have to stay in here?"

"How do you feel?"

"Fine." Nora made to stand, but sat down with a hiss. "Mostly." She looked up at Ralph and sighed again. "My head still hurts a little," she admitted. 

"Do you have a fever?" Ralph asked, then-"Can I?" He looked at Nora with one hand raised.

"Go ahead." Nora fixed her eyes on a point just above the door of the cabin as Ralph gingerly placed his hand on her forehead. 

"It feels a little warm," he said, "but not nearly as bad as before."

"That's good," Nora said softly. They looked at each other. Ralph, cautious and eager all at once, moved his hand from her forehead down, past her ear, until it was cupping her cheek.

Abruptly, Nora drew back. "I think I can manage by myself for the night."

Ralph pulled his hand back as if burned. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." Nora lay back down and turned away from him.

"Alright, then." Ralph stood up, face burning just slightly, and left.

***

Nora lay, awake, on her side, listening to the breathing of her sisters. Ever since she'd stopped becoming delirious as soon as her eyes closed, Ada and Bess had insisted upon sharing their hut again. 

Through a crack in the leaves and mud that kept the hut together, Nora could see vague shapes. One looked a little like a goose, another like an ice cream cone. Ice cream. How long had it been since she'd had ice cream? Not since the war had started when she was five, when sugar rations had been put in place. She lost herself momentarily with visions of ice cream, dripping slowly from a cone, sticking to her hands.

Snap. Nora's breath caught in her throat. She glanced around without moving. There, in the corner of her eye, was something, moving. She turned her head ever so slightly to see what it was. 

A flash of red, and she knew. Of course. Jack. He'd been at her again today, demanding her allegiance to his imaginary tribe. And of course (she kicked herself mentally) he would know that the only way to get Nora to do something was with Ada and Bess. 

She leapt up and immediately felt her head spin. Nora ignored this and threw herself at Roger, who had Bess in one arm and a startled expression on his face. Aiming for his gut, she threw a punch, which he blocked with his free hand. Behind Roger, Nora could see Jack with Ada slung over his shoulder. Wildly, savagely, she clawed at Roger's face, kicking at his legs. Roger, swearing, face bleeding, leapt back with Bess still in his grasp. She was awake now, struggling and reaching for Nora. 

Suddenly, Nora's vision swam. There were two...three Rogers in her sight, each backing away. She knew she had to keep fighting, but the blackness she'd only just escaped was clouding her vision...

Nora collapsed, knees buckling, on the ground.

***

"Nora?" She tried opening her eyes. The blackness was slowly, slowly dripping from her sight, revealing Simon's worried face. "Nora, are you alright?"

Nora shook herself and remembered where she was. "Those bastards," she hissed. A warm trickle of blood dripped down from her nose and pooled on her arm.

"What happened?" Simon questioned

"Jack...he wanted me to join his tribe. He and Roger...they took my sisters." Nora felt tears gathering in her eyes for the first time in forever. "Because I told him no. I told him no, Simon!"

Simon hugged her. The feeling of his small, scrawny arms enfolding her in them was more comforting than anything else could have been. She took a deep, shuddering breath. "It wasn't your fault," Simon comforted her. 

"I've got to get them back-" Nora tried to stand, but fell back, black spots spinning in front of her eyes.

Simon lowered her carefully to the ground. "We'll go tomorrow." He glanced towards Nora's hut. "Do you want me to stay with you tonight?"

The black spots were growing, enveloping Nora once again. She made out one word, "Please," before falling back again.